Photos: Police help wrangle wandering goats in North Admiral

| West Seattle news | Wildlife

KING 5 tweeted that goats were on the loose in West Seattle. Here they are – in a North Admiral neighborhood – police and all (photo just sent by co-publisher Patrick). 6:16 PM: Another photo (this is in the 1100 block Sunset):

Here’s what happened: The goats arrived to clear a patch of brush in the greenbelt behind the house; they did such a good job in that area, they wound up wandering further than they were supposed to. Police believe they’ve all been rounded up. P.S. If you’re seeing a helicopter, that’s TV news; KING is going live at 6:30 pm. 8:38 PM UPDATE: Thanks to Bob Anderson for sending more photos and his account of what happened:

Today’ at approx. 5:30 pm a herd of approximately 25 goats who were clearing a hillside behind residential new construction on 44th Avenue SW (1/2 block NW of the intersection of 44th Avenue SW and Sunset Avenue SW), escaped their fenced confines and fled into the North Admiral neighborhood.

Amazed neighbors contained the goats who fed on residents shrubbery. The SPD were called and arrived promptly on scene within minutes. Neighbors & SPD herded goats back to fenced in construction site where they were contained.

The entire episode took approximately 20 minutes and was good fun on a beautiful fall afternoon.

Here are three of Bob’s photos:

By the way, this isn’t the first time Southwest Precinct officers have tangled with goats this year – remember this escapade from February? ADDED 11:11 PM: OK, two more photos. These are by Junior Member of the Team – the only real goat close-up we got, plus a bonus shot at sunset, looking downtown-ward from the roundup neighborhood:

Michael J Swassing October 6, 2009 (6:25 pm)

Those poor cops are going to be hearing about this at the station for a looooong time.

4thGenWestSider October 6, 2009 (6:29 pm)

I’m sure that really gets their goat!

Voodoo October 6, 2009 (6:36 pm)

What they need is a border collie to whip those goats into formation. Looks like a big herd – how much land were they trying to clear, anyhow?

wonderin October 6, 2009 (6:45 pm)

Do goats eat blackberry vines? The Hamilton overlook could use a good grooming on the steep north side.

David October 6, 2009 (6:53 pm)

Am I missing something here? Why are people are using goats in the city to clear brush? Is there something wrong with weed-wakers and composting?

mike October 6, 2009 (6:59 pm)

well, it’s takes less gas to run them.

LAP October 6, 2009 (7:17 pm)

I think the rent a ruminent idea is great! This is a hoot! Isn’t it fun to have something to giggle about, instead of shootings and other crimes?!?

37Ray October 6, 2009 (7:17 pm)

…”No-o-o-o-o-o-oo-o-o-o-o-o-o”

Bikejuju October 6, 2009 (7:19 pm)

You “why goats?” questions answered: http://rent-a-ruminant.com/ (If I am not mistaken, it was the Rent-A-Ruminant herd that cleared the blackberries behind Guadalupe School a year ago).

vjl October 6, 2009 (7:20 pm)

@David, the goats are really good at this: http://www.seattlepi.com/local/319789_goats14.html

JBL October 6, 2009 (7:39 pm)

Hello?! It’s Northwest Profile #80
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w9jxa7T6WGQ

Tammy October 6, 2009 (8:00 pm)

These are not, I repeat are not, goats from Rent-a-Ruminant LLC. I stay on-site with my herds to take care of them. Their well being is my number one priority! The owner was not on-site and if he is who I think he is, never stays on site. He also doesn’t give a rip about his goats. To him they are “just goats” replaceable… What nobody knows is they are most likely hungry, as he doesn’t care, and that they got into peoples gardens and probably toxic vegetation! Who knows how many of them will get sick or even die because of this. I love my goats!! This person does not. So please not reference to Rent-a-Ruminant. I am a professional, this person is not!.The NW profile # 80 Pemco goats are mine. That is why they look so healthy and happy…

Dunno October 6, 2009 (8:00 pm)

From the picture it looks like officer Askew is thinking, man, what other job gives you a chance to herd goats!!
I do see Charlie in the picture too, look out for those goat bombs!

miws October 6, 2009 (8:06 pm)

That’s the problem with goats nowadays. They have this huge entitlement complex. They just can’t be satisfied with the generous portions offered them, they feel they should be able to get their sustenance wherever they please, at the expense of others! :P

Mike

Paul October 6, 2009 (8:15 pm)

Walking my dog this afternoon in N. Admiral…cops everywhere…helicopter overhead…Murderers? Armed robbers? No – it’s a goat rodeo. Wish they had invited my Aussie to help round them up.

marty October 6, 2009 (8:19 pm)

“Doctor, Doctor I feel like a goat”.
“How long have you felt like that”?

….. “Since I was a kid”.

christopherboffoli October 6, 2009 (8:48 pm)

wonderin: I have been, well, wondering the same thing. Do goats eat blackberry vines? They must have tremendously resilient mouths if they can.

jeunglady October 6, 2009 (8:57 pm)

i am so amused by this story! :-)

Que October 6, 2009 (9:47 pm)

In answer to your questions… Yes they do eat blackberry canes and they actually love them! They will also eat the dreaded English Ivy too!

Gatewood School used them a couple years ago for ivy and blackberry removal and it was terrific, the kids loved it.

bdb October 6, 2009 (9:48 pm)

Classic

miws October 6, 2009 (10:12 pm)

Thanks for your input, Tammy.

I actually thought it was odd that they could get out of their confines, if they were being adequately monitored.

I hope they’ll all be okay, and now feel kind of bad making light of the situation when there’s the possibility of them becoming sick, or worse.

I think, when the business is run ethically, and cares for the goats as living beings, and not just a “tool of the trade”, that it’s a great idea. Not only in an ecological sense, or for the fact that they can access areas such as steep hillsides where it would be hard or impossible for human workers to do so safely, but goats are just pretty darn cool, too!

I’d love to see some in action someday!

Mike

do the puyallup October 6, 2009 (11:37 pm)

Protect and serve SPD! LOVE it!

Kate K October 7, 2009 (12:01 am)

Another ‘only in West Seattle’ moment! Those goats are adorable :-)

carraig na splinkeen October 7, 2009 (7:06 am)

I guess I was really hoping, that with all the goats in the post, we would have seen a lot of troll traffic, but alas, it seems that these billy goats may be too gruff for the anonymous “trolls” of the internet…

sun*e October 7, 2009 (8:13 am)

What a craaaaaack up! Goats clearing brush – it’s one of those “it sounded like a good idea at the time” moments. It’s always funny… and sunny in West Seattle. :)

Joan October 7, 2009 (8:17 am)

Sorry this is giving a black eye to Rent-a- Ruminant! Hope this goat owner is more responsible from now on. Maybe a fine?

Tammy October 7, 2009 (9:26 am)

Thanks for the comments Mike and Joan. Don’t mean to be a sour puss but I am really protective of my little guys and can’t stand it when others are not. If this is who I think it is he is horrible to his goats! He let many die last winter because he did not feed them enough or give them adequate shelter. They also had untreated diseases. They deserve the best of care!! If you see him I would suggest calling him on it. He may lie as this is also his MO. He those of us that do this business in a really good way, a bad name and I resent that!

If any one out there want’s to rent my goats go to rentaruminant.com or info@rentaruminant.com

I think I have the happiest goats in the world. None go to slaughter and they are retired when they can no longer work. Many of mine are rescues.

creed October 7, 2009 (9:27 am)

Where is that big sheepdog from the cartoons when you need him?

miws October 7, 2009 (9:58 am)

Hi Tammy, You weren’t being a sourpuss, just showing concern for the goats. :)
.

After making my second comment last night, I visited your site, via the link in your name. Was not only very impressed at reading more beyond what you stated in your previous post regarding how you treat your “employees”, but had a blast just playng around with all of the interactive stuff!

Check Tammy’s website out, people, even if you aren’t ruminating about renting ruminants! ;)

Mike

andrea October 7, 2009 (10:36 am)

Thanks for the info Tammy! I agree with Mike, your website is awesome, and the work pictures are amazing and your goats are too cute! Thanks for being a good goat boss!

laurie October 7, 2009 (11:33 am)

We need to let others know the bad goat renter guy is a turd. Please do not use his services.

coolmama October 7, 2009 (11:42 am)

Oh man, I wish we could have seen this in person! I had NO idea people actually rented goats like this!

WSB October 7, 2009 (11:45 am)

I need to step in here and stop the speculation about who the renter/goat owner might have been and whether they are a good businessperson or not. It’s OK that Tammy posted that it wasn’t her, since someone mentioned her business name, but absent any proof or any sort of penalty/citation (I will be checking with animal authorities – they were staying on site beyond the time we and other media were there), this whole line of discussion has forked off “if it is who I think it is.” May NOT have been whoever that is. If you have a complaint about someone in this line of work or any others regarding animals, city animal authorities are at 386-PETS – TR

jiggers October 7, 2009 (12:45 pm)

They were supposed to hit Nickels house.

a parent October 7, 2009 (2:43 pm)

Too freakin’ cute-LOVE this story!!!

WSB October 7, 2009 (3:18 pm)

I wonder if whomever told you that meant:
http://consequenceofsound.net/2009/10/07/watch-the-mountain-goats-captivate-colbert/

This happened way too late in the day for it to have made any East Coast shows last night …

Maurie October 7, 2009 (5:48 pm)

This is the best piece of local news I have seen in a long time – I love when news makes me laugh till I cry! Thanks WSB!

Mike October 7, 2009 (9:49 pm)

Looks like the Police finally found some J-walkers to prosecute.

Billy Capra October 8, 2009 (1:35 pm)

I’m glad all the goats were rescued safely.
.

When I see animals mistreated I get mad! I get MAD! I GET MAD!!

neighbor October 9, 2009 (9:56 am)

Hi, I’m a neighbor who hung around to the end of this little saga and spoke personally both with animal control and with the goat owner once he showed up.
–

Animal control told me she “wrote them up” for inadequate water supply and leash law (who knew you could have goats but they had to be on a leash?).
–

The name of the goat company was written on the side of the truck that came to pick the goats up. The guy I spoke with (who said they were his goats) said he was supposed to pick them up that morning, but when he showed up a subcontractor had poured concrete sidewalks on the sides of the house, effectively trapping the goats in the backyard. The owner said he was going to come back and feed them but… he didn’t finish the sentence. He then said they broke out because they were hungry.
–
Lastly I want to say how really impressed I was with the police and the efforts they went to to not only get the goats back into their fenced enclosure, but to make sure they were contained safely. I think they went above and beyond the call of duty on this, all the while keeping a good sense of humor. Nice job!

WSB October 9, 2009 (10:12 am)

I spoke with Animal Control management yesterday and they did not actually cite anyone, though they said if there was a violation, it would have been leash law. But apparently if anyone suffered major damage to consumed shrubbery, etc., you are welcome to file a complaint with them – did not appear that anyone had done so as of our conversation late yesterday – TR

Sorry, comment time is over.